Jan Goldsmith is a Republican

California Republican Party

The California Republican Party is the California affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party chairman is Tom Del Beccaro and is based in Burbank, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. The RPC also has a headquarters in Sacramento....

 politician from San Diego, CA who currently serves as the San Diego City Attorney.

Education

He received his undergraduate degree from American University

American University

American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...

 in Washington, DC and his law degree

Law degree

A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...

 from the University of San Diego School of Law

University of San Diego School of Law

The University of San Diego School of Law, commonly referred to as USD Law, is a law school located on the campus of the University of San Diego in San Diego, California in the community of Linda Vista. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961...

.

Political career

Formerly the mayor of Poway, CA, a city in northern San Diego County, Goldsmith represented that city and other northern suburbs as the representative of the 75th Assembly district

California's 75th State Assembly district

California's 75th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Republican Nathan Fletcher of San Diego.-District profile:...

 from 1992 until 1998. Upon being term limited from that job, Goldsmith made an unsuccessful bid for California State Treasurer

California State Treasurer

The California State Treasurer is responsible for the state's investment and finance. The post has more narrow responsibilities and authority than the California State Controller...

, losing the primary to former Assembly speaker Curt Pringle who lost that election and now serves as mayor of Anaheim, CA. Following his loss, he became a San Diego county judge for 9½ years before stepping down to run for City Attorney.

Legislative Accomplishments

According to Goldsmith in an interview he did with San Diego Magazine, his greatest legislative accomplishment had to do with juvenile justice. He chaired the Assembly subcommittee that put together a package of legislation that eventually became initiatives that the public got to vote on. He also felt foster care was another of his accomplishments. He was named legislator of the year for the Children’s Lobby. He carried the legislation that eliminated the bias against trans-racial adoption.

Ferrets

Goldsmith also became well known (and in some circles lampooned) as being the author of a bill that attempted to legalize ferrets as pets in California. California is the only state where ferrets are not legal pets and some people were being put in jail for having pet ferrets. However, the Department of Fish and Game was adamantly against it.